Winter Build Off 2022 - Explorer Bass

[Flamingo21]

I'm enjoying this bass. It sounds truly bassy, without a lot of highs, which is to my liking. In that regard it is like my No.1 bass (a Precision) and my No.2 bass (a single coil Precision) which don't have a lot of highs either. But it still sounds very different from those two basses, which is good because now it's a valuable addition to the collection.


I plan to write the Submission Post in the next 24 hours. I need to take some more photos for that.


Finally, thank you all for being here and accompanying me on this eventful journey. It's been a pleasure.

 

[postalflunkie]

Finally, thank you all for being here and accompanying me on this eventful journey. It's been a pleasure.
View attachment 4613001

 

[Reno2]

Well, I'm certainly taking it to the next rehearsal of my Stoner band.

Name of the band and links?

 

[Flamingo21]

Name of the band and links?

Stormbird.

We are in the startup phase. We aren't gigging yet, and have no internet presence.

 

[Flamingo21]

SUBMISSION

I herewith enter my Explorer Bass into the Winter Buildoff 2022.
As I started with a body blank and a ready made neck, this counts as a partial build.

For a summary of the build process, follow this link:
Winter Build Off 2022 - Explorer Bass
To read the entire build thread, follow this link:
Winter Build Off 2022 - Explorer Bass
To learn all about the Winter Buildoff, follow this link:
Winter Build Off 2022 - Renewal/Rebirth


Here are the specifications. After that, the photos.


Body
Explorer shape, cut from a 5 piece Swamp Ash blank.

Pickguard
Shape of a lightning bolt, made from transparent red plexiglass.
Incidentally, this shape was inspired by Gibson's guitar of the month for September 2008:


Neck
Ready made neck from Tools4tones. Maple neck, maple fretboard. 20 frets. The usual dot marks front and side, but I added a red lightning bolt side mark at the fifth fret.

Headstock
Maple, with front and back veneered.
The sides are blackened with indelible marker, with text in red lettering: "EXPLORER" on the bass side, "TB - WBO 22" on the treble side.

Finish
Pure Tung Oil.

Pickup & electronics
EMG 35HZ, a passive humbucker, in neck position.
Standard passive electronics from EMG.
Volume pot, tone pot.

Hardware
Black hardware from several no name brands.
The control cavity cover I made from polystyrene sheet, blackened with indelible marker.
The neck attachment screws and washers deviate from the black theme: they are chrome.

Strings
Fender flatwounds 50 - 65 - 85 - 100.

Strap
Wide leather strap. 75 mm, or almost 3". Colourful peacock theme. "Fame" brand.

 

[Mickey666]

Very nicely done!

 

[postalflunkie]

Beautiful job

 

[dmarino]

Cool idea, nice execution. The see-thru pickguard is a cool touch.
Anyone would want to pick it up and rock out!

 

[Beej]

Fantastic!

 

[Flamingo21]

It is sometimes said that all Explorers have terrible neck dive. Nope, this one has almost none.

Also, if anyone wondered what the bass weighs, it's 4.6 kilograms. That's just over ten pounds. So the people who worried about the 46mm body thickness, did have a point.

All the while, it is not a really heavy bass in my mind. Today I took it to my band. Played most of a three hour rehearsal on it, and not for a moment did I want to put it down. The only reason I played another bass for some songs, is a different tuning.

My bandmates didn't want me to put the bass down either. They loved the sound of this bass! They'd be totally OK with me bringing it every time from now on. But I want to build a case for it before I start doing that. So they'll have to be patient for now.

 

[Flying B]

Great stuff!
Just don't turn around too quickly with the bass on if there's anyone standing nearby you...

 

[Flamingo21]

Well, that problem doesn't seem to exist. No one has yet come close at any time I wear the bass.

 

[Flamingo21]

Here's that link to the thread where I draw up a reverse concept.
Designing a Bass (one way to do it)

I finally got around to studying this and grasping the principles. Thanks!

 

[Flamingo21]

At a gig with my Stoner band.

https://youtube.com/shorts/cRmMd1G9DQk?feature=share

 

[Reedt2000]

At a gig with my Stoner band.

https://youtube.com/shorts/cRmMd1G9DQk?feature=share

Nice! Love me some stoner rock

 

[Beej]

At a gig with my Stoner band.

https://youtube.com/shorts/cRmMd1G9DQk?feature=share

That sounded great!

It was a great pick-me-up after being let down by seeing you weren't playing viola.

 

[Flamingo21]

That sounded great!

It was a great pick-me-up after being let down by seeing you weren't playing viola.

Well, I did suggest I play viola in the band, but the guys thought it didn't sound Stoner enough.
So for the next Buildoff, I'm planning to build a Stonola.

 

[Beej]

Well, I did suggest I play viola in the band, but the guys thought it didn't sound Stoner enough.
So for the next Buildoff, I'm planning to build a Stonola.

 

[Max Bogosity]

Well, I did suggest I play viola in the band, but the guys thought it didn't sound Stoner enough.

It’s worth a try. Reference the girl with the cello in Metal Lords as proof of concept in an adjacent genre.

So for the next Buildoff, I'm planning to build a Stonola.

I look forward to the Stonola.

 

[Crawforde]

Yea. the WBO needs a theme still.
or I haven’t been paying attention, or I just forgot.
But basses meant to accompany the stonola violla could be a good theme, or maybe I spent way too much time in the sun today.
Either way I’ll be sketching ideas.